Bulldogs look to the past

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Bulldogs look to the past110305 dogbytes11Athens Banner-HeraldMinutes after hitting the low point of the season on Saturday, Georgia coach Mark Richt reminded his players about the team that three years earlier climbed back from a loss to Florida to reach heights that no Bulldogs squad had experienced in 20 years.--> Bulldogs look to the past 2002 team rebounded to win SEC crown By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 10:58 PM on Thursday, November 3, 2005 Minutes after hitting the low point of the season on Saturday, Georgia coach Mark Richt reminded his players about the team that three years earlier climbed back from a loss to Florida to reach heights that no Bulldogs squad had experienced in 20 years.

Kicker Brandon Coutu, who missed two field goals in the 14-10 loss to Florida, didn't need any history lessons.

He was at Auburn as a recruit when Michael Johnson caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from David Greene to clinch the trip to the SEC title game with a 24-21 victory in 2002.

"I was secretly rooting for Georgia," Coutu said. "My brother had a Georgia hat on at the game as the guest that I brought, and they didn't like that one bit. I think I might have jumped up after that catch, and they were about ready to kick me out."

The 2002 Bulldogs were 8-0 and ranked fifth when they lost to Florida 20-13. This year's team was 7-0 and ranked fourth when it lost to the Gators.

"Just knowing that it's still possible and there's still hope out there for us, that's good," defensive end Quentin Moses said. "It's been done before and hopefully we can use that to our advantage and play a good game against Auburn."

Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC) can win the SEC East title by beating No. 17 Auburn on Nov. 12 and Kentucky on Nov. 19. The '02 Bulldogs won the East by beating Ole Miss and then Auburn en route to Georgia's first SEC title since 1982 and a 13-1 finish.

"That season the mindframe was to come back and show that we could still play, and people shouldn't knock us just because of that one loss," said defensive end Will Thompson, who started 12 games in 2002.

"We definitely have the talent and ability to do the same thing this year," Coutu said.

Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley plans to be vocal in reminding the team that there still are goals to chase even if the Bulldogs are out of the national title race.

"Myself and a couple of seniors on this team are going to have to really step up and make it known to our teammates that we still have a whole lot to play for," Shockley said. "The SEC is one of our biggest goals and that's still in our hands and we still control that."

Florida (6-2, 4-2) will be rooting for Auburn next weekend. If Georgia loses, the Gators will win the division if they beat Vanderbilt Saturday and South Carolina Nov. 19. Florida is a 19-point favorite against the Commodores.

"You see some teams kind of dropping their heads right now across college football," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Competing for the SEC in November, which was our goal from Day One, that keeps you driving."

It will keep Georgia driving as well.

"It's just nice whether or not it's happened before that you still have a chance to do it," Richt said. "From a head coach's perspective, you're always trying to make sure that you've got morale, you've got hope and you've got guys who have something to play for."

Thompson actually doesn't plan to speak to his teammates about the '02 season.

He'd rather look forward than back.

"You don't want to have the mindframe that we did it once so we'll do it again," Thompson said. "The mindframe is we have to put 100 percent in the last couple of games and do what we have to do to win."